With the support of FAO and the joint FAO/IAEA division, the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics is developing a publicly accessible e-learning bioinformatics course on animal viral pathogens. The first module of this course, entitled "Phylogenetics of animal pathogens: Basic principles and applications" is already available on the web. It has been designed as a self-learning module for animal health laboratory staff and is organized in four chapters: basic notions on phylogenetic trees; how to build phylogenetic trees; how to interpret phylogenetic trees; and exercises. See http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_010313b.html or contact [email protected] for more information.